Our Team

Mike Feerick

Founder and Chairperson

Mike Feerick is a tech entrepeneur and CEO of the free online education website Alison. He founded Ireland Reaching Out in 2009 and has been its Chairperson since then. Born in New York, Mike is a graduate of the University of Limerick(BBS) and Harvard Business School(MBA). Recognised by UNESCO for his global leadership in free open-source learning, Mike is an Ashoka Fellow and Artthur Guinness Fund Awardee for social entrepreneurship.

Clare Doyle

Heritage Resource Manager

Clare Doyle is the Ireland Reaching Out Heritage Resource Manager and has worked with the programme since March 2014. Clare acts as a liaison with Ireland XO volunteers, manages the message board and is the main point of contact for those who use the website. Clare is a qualified Archivist and is actively involved in family history and heritage in her own local area of Tuam Co. Galway. Her own family tree can be traced on her father's side to counties Galway and Mayo and on her mother's side to counties Monaghan and Fermanagh.

Laura Colleran

Communications Manager

Laura Colleran joined the Ireland Reaching Out HQ team in November 2014. She is an Ex-member of the Diaspora, having worked in Italy for 12 years, and has recently returned to her home county of Galway. Laura is a graduate of the DIT and has worked with top global brands at international level. She is responsible for all marketing commuications, managing the global promotion of the programme and overseeing all website content and social media engagement.